DON’T QUIT

I came across this poem entitled “Don’t Quit” some 20 years or so ago.

Since my initial discovery, this poem has become a personal mantra for me.

Much like a well worn, ever reliable comfort blanket, this is something I read over and over again specially during times of discouragements and disappointments.

As we go through the motions of life, now like any other, is the right time for us, for me, to re-visit the old familiar verses of this poem and draw strength and inspiration it so reliably and unselfishly gives.

Let me share this with you...

Don't Quit
by anonymous

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest! if you must; but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow;
You might succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup.
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit;
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

Indeed I couldn’t agree more!

As the saying goes, "a quitter never wins and a winner never quits".

In whatever battle you may be in right now, I hope that you too will find inspiration from the simple yet life giving message of this poem.

GOD bless everyone!

Organics for Life!

Several health issues plague humanity nowadays.

We can attribute this to a lot of factors---pollution, stress, food intake, products that we use, among other things.

Chemicals like Sodium Laurel Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Parabens and others are just some of the controversial chemicals found in our favorite brand of shampoos , soaps, lotions and other personal care products. These chemicals has been studied and are found to be possible causes of cancer, asthma, various allergies, neuro toxicity and several other health conditions.

To those in the know, a lot has actually gone back to basics….the use of organic products!

Sadly, most of the organic products are sold under high-end brands and are quite costly.

Is it only the financially blessed who have the right to use organic products?

Good news, ARTIZANS Organics introduces alternative products such as Human Heart Nature.

Motivated by the love of GOD and the Philippines, Human Heart Nature created a line of personal care products that has real health benefits without harming oneself and the environment, at a price that most can afford. You do not have to be rich in order to buy organic, natural products. A 50 ml shampoo costs as little as P29.95.

Through Human Heart Nature, we help support our Filipino Organic Farmers and extend a livelihood program to the different Gawad Kalinga communities.

What’s more, we offer business opportunities to those who wants to earn extra income through its agent/distributorship program.

Enjoy an exciting afternoon as we share with you the full product and business presentation over a cup of tea and a marvelous selection of treats at Marco Polo Hotel Lobby Lounge this Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 3pm to 6pm. Registration to this event is P250 consummable.

For reservations and more information, you may call (032) 518-8343 or you may email organics@artizans.bz. Artizans Organics is located inside Fashion Avenue, Level 1, Ayala Center Cebu.

ARTIZANS Organics
Promoting Health
Nurturing Earth
Building the Nation
One Person at a time!

FASHION RECESSION

These past weeks had been very busy for me. I met up with a lot of old friends. Most have come home to Cebu after years of living and working outside the country. Others just visited Cebu for vacation. There was a lot of getting together, catching up on each other’s lives, and trying to reconnect threads of yester years.

I may have overbooked myself that I am now afflicted with a terrible flu. Thank goodness though that it’s not the H1N1 type, just the more common type which one gets whenever we lack sleep and rest. This is quite a price to pay for a fledging social butterfly.

Anyway, after countless get together, I noticed that whenever I meet friends with whom I have not seen for quite a while, there are 3 questions that I can now expect to be asked.

First question-----How are you? Usually this includes my family too.

Second question----How’s business?

And third but not least---How’s the recession affecting fashion?

There are of course variations to these questions, but the theme is pretty much the same.

I also used to give varied answers depending on my state of mind that day, but as this had been asked of me countless times, quite automatically I’ve been noticing myself ready with repeated answers. Answers which are pretty much like the pre-programmed responses on answering machines which I just hope none of my friends have noticed.

So, to spill the beans, here are the million dollar answers to these questions…..

Question number 1: How are you?

My answer to question number one largely depends on the breakfast I ate that day and of which side of the bed I woke up with.

The answer varies from “Okay, I’m doing well” to “I’m doing great”. Because I believe in positive thinking and of self-prophecy (one tends to act out what he or she earlier predicted or declared), I seldom give a negative answer.

There are days though when I really do feel terrible and in such rare instance, I would most likely just say “Okay ra”.

I believe that no matter how we feel or what our state of mind is, we still have a lot of blessings to be thankful for. It is just but right to focus on the positive rather than the negative.

Question number 2: How’s business?

Well, quite emphatically, I would answer that “Business is fine and only because of God’s grace” and that’s the undeniable truth.

Most business people veer away from the discussion of GOD. I once had been interviewed by a famous local business magazine and the writer who later became a very good friend of mine, once told me that she cannot put too much emphasis on GOD’s miracles in our business. As she is writing for a business magazine, she needs to write about clear and tangible business practices which led to our success.

While I know she and the magazine she works for, meant well. I cannot quite discount the fact, that apart from GOD, we really cannot do anything. Our company started really small, a measly sum of P200,000. This amount is really nothing considering that we put up a manufacturing company targeting the mid to high end market. At that time, no bank would grant us a loan as we have nothing to use as collateral.

That was 7 years ago and while the company is not immune to financial strains, to reach this far is a simple miracle. A grace and favor from GOD.

Now on the third question….

Question no. 3: How is the recession affecting fashion?

Well, this is a bit harder to answer.

For one, unlike food, shelter, or clothing, fashion accessories are definitely not on everyone’s priority list. In fact, this is usually at the bottommost.

For a fashion accessory company like ours, to maintain operations and grow sales when most companies are closing, is really a daunting task.

However it is good to keep in mind that while global economy might be depressed, the fashion accessory industry still remains to be a multi-billion business. While some companies and buyers may want to shift businesses at this time, a lot are actually sticking it out. A lot are riding the tide.

Quite amazingly, in our case, a few of our buyers have actually expanded their fashion accessory businesses.

What’s the secret? Well, I believe that the secret is no secret at all. The company who has expanded their business has gotten a good pulse of the business landscape. For fashion jewelry, it’s literally going back to basics. Classic, timeless, elegant, fashion items that doesn’t go out of style and those that offers great value for money are topping the chart.

This is the very same niche that our international brand IMPRESSIONE and local brand ARTIZANS have comfortably settled in for many years now.

I’ve been accused of shamelessly tooting our own horn when promoting our fashion jewelry line and yes, I agree that I do. We do however, walk our talk.

I am just thankful that we made a decision many years back to work on various themes as part of our design philosophy, one which includes the Classics as the biggest and most important among our design themes.

Not only do we develop designs that doesn’t go out of style, but we also make sure that we incorporate materials whose value by itself will certainly increase with the passage of time.

You will find a lot of IMPRESSIONE and ARTIZANS pieces infused with semi-precious stones, fresh water pearls, swarovski crystals and lots more.

ARTIZANS fashion accessory pieces may be had for a reasonable price. An earring for instance, would cost as little as P280 and already using these materials. I think that’s truly value for money!

So, how is the current global economic crisis affecting the fashion industry business?

I really cannot speak for the entire industry, but for the company I work for, it is good.

When most people are struggling to keep ends meet, it’s certainly unwise to invest in disposable fashion items. Classic jewelry pieces made of value added materials is the way to go.

If you are to shop for fashion jewelry as a fashion statement piece, a gift or simply to reward one self, I hope you can consider my 2-cents worth. Shop wisely everyone!

Silver Linings

When America sneezes the rest of the world catches the cold. We have heard this said often enough. But the recent global economic crisis left a lot of proof of this old adage lying around. A lot of Filipinos are definitely experiencing the full blown flu with companies closing left and right leaving several thousands even millions of people jobless. There is a palpable feeling of gloom and doom among the working sector. 

Yet to every dark cloud, there is always a silver lining waiting to be discovered. Filipinos as we are, we are known for our tenacity and resilience. We are the Juans or Juanas who chooses to sell ice candies and halo halo during the El Ninos and Kape at Tsokolates during the El Nina’s. We know how to laugh even during our hardest fall. Our history books have a lot to tell about this, from the World War II, to the Asian economic Crises, to the 20 year regime of a dictator. For those who lived through these decades, they are not only survivors but winners in their own rights. 

Indeed, we do not allow momentary difficulties to hinder us from achieving our goals. We have the innate indomitable fighting spirits in all of us. We have proofs of Filipinos excelling in their chosen field given the right opportunities, such as the likes of Filipino achievers –Lea Salonga conquering the broadway scene, Fashion byword—Monique Lhuillier, Furniture-maker Kenneth Cobonpue or the GenSan hero Manny Pacquaio. 

For some of us who may have the fair share of difficulties brought about by this recent economic crisis, we need not look very far though. We can look deep into ourselves and ask, ‘what can I do today that would change my situation?”

The answer could be as simple as changing one’s lifestyle, simple budgeting or getting an alternative or added source of income. Whatever it is, the important thing is that we do not succumb to fear and allow uncertainties take a hold on us to decide our future.

There will always be a silver lining waiting to be discovered. And as the Source of all wisdom says: “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV)

This fundamental truth will certainly never go out of style.

About Me

I have always been fascinated by fashion. I find it amusing that a lot of people think of it as trivial and frivolous without realizing that fashion actually has a great positive contribution in the society that we live in. Fashion is one of the forces that shapes and forms our economic landscapes. It is one of the driving forces behind many of the multi billion businesses we see nowadays which in turn provide jobs and livelihood. 

Fashion is certainly more than just choosing the right color or the right cut. After all, a well delivered speech would lose its sincerity and impact if delivered by someone who is not dressed appropriately. Nobody would take one seriously if they are dressed like a clown so to speak. Through fashion, passions are rekindled, power deals are closed, and a gloomy disposition is lifted up. In more ways than one, fashion affects us. 

Personally, a big part of my life has been about fashion. I had the privilege to be on both sides of the equation, that of being a consumer and that of a designer and manufacturer. 

As a consumer, I can relate to the exhilaration one feels after purchasing the much sought after “it” shoes at 30% discount or of finding the perfect clutch for the latest acquired mini dress. 

Likewise, fashion has carved a career path for me. Having worked both as Sales and Marketing Manager and Designer for an international fashion accessory company for almost 10 years now, I was also given the rare opportunity of working with established designers of well known brands abroad. It is truly very inspiring to work with some of the geniuses in the fashion industry and get a glimpse on how a certain design takes shape. 

Also, I find it a privilege to have access to the most expensive forecasting tools and of knowing the up and coming trends at least one to two seasons ahead. 

Far from being a fashion expert, these experiences have somehow given me quite a unique perspective which others may find interesting. In the course of these various exposures and influences, I have come to know what works and what doesn’t personally work for me in fashion. 

It is indeed with these varied personal and career exposures that I have decided to put up an online site. I hope to share my knowledge and experiences and hopefully also learn from others with the same interest as I, through this online interaction. 

Early on, I also just want to inform that the opinions expressed in this site are purely my personal opinions or that of my guest writers.